Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Update on UK Green Infrastructure Platform

Lord Callanan: My Right Honourable friend the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change (Greg Hands) has today made the following statement:I can today inform the House that UK Green Infrastructure Platform Ltd (“UKGIP”) is being wound up, via a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation, having fulfilled its objectives to own and manage the five assets retained following the sale of the UK Green Investment Bank and to enhance and realise value through their sale.UKGIP, a private limited company, was established in 2017 to manage Government’s interests in the unsold assets from the Green Investment Bank. It was 90% owned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. UK Green Investment Bank Limited (“UKGIB”), which is wholly owned by Macquarie, held the remaining 10% shareholding in UKGIP.

Ministry of Defence

Small Boats Migration

Baroness Goldie: My hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Prime Minister announced on 14 April 2022 that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has commenced primacy for this Government’s operational response to small boat migration in the English Channel. This follows months of close collaboration between Departments and partners to establish operational plans and detailed working arrangements. The details for Operation ISOTROPE – including responsibilities, governance and financial arrangements – have been agreed with the Home Office and will operate until 31 January 2023. This surge in Defence support will assist the Border Force in optimising existing processes, assets and expertise to bring small boat numbers under manageable levels, enabling continued public confidence in this Government’s response during a particularly challenging period. Operation ISOTROPE will respond to the circumstances of attempted migrant flows in the months ahead. Initially, the Government has provided Defence with an additional £50 million of funding which will be used to enhance a number of surface and surveillance capabilities and optimise existing process and infrastructure. This will enable the MOD to monitor and manage migrants attempting this perilous journey and, alongside the Border Force, ensure that those arriving on UK shores do so safely and can then be passed promptly into the Home Office immigration system for appropriate processing. Overall responsibility for managing borders and immigration is not impacted by this announcement and remains with the Home Office.

Call-Out Order - Countering the Illegal Entry of People into the United Kingdom

Baroness Goldie: My hon. Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.A new order has been made under section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable Reservists to be called into permanent service to prepare for, participate in, or support operations by Her Majesty’s Forces to counter illegal entries into the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence is regularly tasked to support broader HMG objectives. As part of this support, Reserve Forces will be on standby, as part of a Whole Force approach with Regular Forces, to deliver a range of Defence outputs such as (but not limited to) the reinforcement of Regular units, provision of specialist knowledge, skills and experience, and support to Partners Across Government. The order shall take effect from the day on which it is made and shall cease to have effect 12 months from the date on which it is made.

Department for International Trade

Canada Trade Negotiations Update

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade (Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP) has today made the following statement.The first round of UK- Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations began on 28 March and concluded on 1 April. A delegation of 27 Canadian officials undertook technical talks in London with a further 133 joining the talks virtually.During this first round, talks focused on reviewing the current trade agreement, sharing recent policy developments in the UK and Canada, and building a shared understanding of each other’s overall positions in every area expected to be covered in the new Free Trade Agreement. Technical discussions were held across 34 policy areas over 50 separate sessions.Both countries share a strong desire to secure an ambitious, modern and comprehensive deal that goes further than the existing trade continuity agreement, removing existing trade barriers and creating new opportunities for business in the UK and Canada. The negotiations are a key opportunity to deepen UK-Canada trade, already worth £20 billion, and to work with a likeminded partner on a range of inclusive and future facing trade policy such as supporting women’s economic empowerment, SMEs, innovation, climate and environment.The second round of official level negotiations is due to take place in June 2022.We remain clear that any deal the Government strikes must be in the best interests of the British people and the economy.The Government will keep Parliament updated as these negotiations progress.